District News 09-10-14

Holy Communion will be celebrated in the church on Sunday, October 12 at noon. A coffee morning and gift day takes place in the village hall on October 18, from 10am-noon. Come and enjoy a free coffee and home-made biscuits. Your gift to church funds can be placed in the box available, or brought to the church the following day, which is harvest thanksgiving.

Bowden

Community Café

The next Community Café will meet in the village hall on Wednesday, October 15, at 11am.

Channelkirk

Church Guild

The opening meeting was very well attended by members and friends. After the devotions and business, Nicola Pringle gave an excellent talk on her trip to Peru with Earlston High School, answering questions with enthusiasm and interest. The next meeting is on Wednesday, November 5, at 2.30pm, in the Church Centre.

At the annual coffee morning held in the rugby club on Saturday, September, 27, £1,476 was raised for Macmillan Cancer Care. Helen and Sheila thank all who contributed in any way to make this such a success.

Parish Church

The Congregational Board meet tonight at 8pm in the church hall. Bring a mug or a cup for a tea or coffee. The service on Sunday is at 10.15am and will be conducted by Rev. Julie Woods. The Autumn Church Magazine should be ready for deliverers, too. If anyone is wishing to attend the Harvest Messy Church on Saturday, October 18, please get in touch with Julie. Communion will be celebrated on Sunday, October 19.

Ednam

Church guild

Kelso North and Ednam Church Guild opened its autumn session with a service held in Kelso North on Thursday, September 25. The Rev Anna Rodwell led the service of dedication in which members of the guild also took part. Tea was served and some business discussed. The Guild meets again today (Thursday, October 9), for a social evening. New members are welcome to this and to all future meetings held in Kelso North Church at 7.30pm. Please see notices for future meetings.

Ettrickbridge

New Year bowling

A meeting will take place in Kirkhope Hall on Tuesday, October 14, at 7.30pm to discuss the charity bowling tournament on New Year’s Day. All welcome.

Fountainhall

WRI

The WRI will meet in the village hall at 7.30pm on Wednesday, October 15, when there will be a cupcake decorating demonstration. Competitions: four pieces of tablet and a bracelet. Competition winners at September meeting: Strawberry jam – 1, Margaret Robertson; 2, Christine Sinclair. A jam dish – 1, Dianne Wilson; 2, Irene Scott.

New members welcome.

Galashiels

Marie Curie

The Galashiels Marie Curie Fundraising Group is holding a “Shopping Extravaganza” evening at the Abbotsford Arms Hotel, Galashiels on Friday, October 24, starting at 7.30 pm.

Glendouglas

Whist

The monthly Whist Drive is on Monday, October 13 at 7.30pm.

All welcome.

SWRI

The SWRI held a meeting on Wednesday, October 1, and members were treated to an excellent demonstration of flower arranging by Gail Watson of Border Blooms, who made everything look so

easy and gave all the arrangements to the rural to raffle. They were won by Elma Montgomerie, Marylyn Farquharson, Francis Minto and Iris Willacy. Competition: 1, Cathy Johnson; 2, Marylyn Farquharson.

Vice-President Mairhi Trickett was in the chair at last week’s club meeting and, after disposing of some business, the evening took the form of a hat-night. Iain Smith described the splendours of Venice he found when he visited there, along with, it seemed, half the population of Italy; Bob Kellett spent five minutes on the phrase “only five minutes” and all the connotations evolving therefrom, and Gus Neilson gave a humourous resume of his rugby career, in which the only thing that prevented him from reaching the higher echelons of the sport was his lack of size and skills. Mairhi thanked the speakers for their contributions.

Film & Video Group

Club president Jean Tait started the new season of meetings last Tuesday, with a series of short films made by members of the Scottish Amateur Moviemakers association (SAM). The first on screen was a re-enactment of a Scottish criminal trial of Madeline Smith in1857, who was accused of murdering one of her suitors with arsenic poison. The evidence was duly presented, but the prosecution failed to prove the case against her, allowing a not proven verdict to be granted. The second film was a documentary about a lone fisherman working his small creel boat in Orkney and showing how he goes about his daily routine of bating, casting and eventually harvesting the catch of lobsters and crabs, which are destined for the markets in the south of England and beyond. The final film in this programme of true-life stories was “An Edwardian Priest” about the Reverend Thomas Byles, who served in the parish of Chipping Ongar, Essex, from1905. He received an invitation to officiate at the wedding of his younger brother William in America, which prompted him to make the trip to New York in 1912. It was his misfortune to be a passenger on the ill-fated RMS Titanic when it struck an iceberg. According to the reports of passengers who survived, he assisted many passengers onto the lifeboats. Inevitably, he was one of the many souls who perished. Later, Pope Pius 10th described him as a “martyr for the church”. The meeting on October 14, will be a visit from Carlisle Camcorder Club.

Camera Club

Former member and past club president Robert Mitchell was guest speaker at the meeting last Thursday, when he gave an inspiring talk on a cycle tour he made in 2013 entitled “Martin Luther Recycled”. This was Rob’s sixth tour of the Saxony region of Germany, hence the title. Rob gave a brief history of Martin Luther, the German theologian who was born in the town of Eisleben in 1483 and was instrumental in the reform of the Catholic Church. The cycle tour began in Eisleben and progressed through beautiful countryside and villages, where accommodation had been booked in advance, often in guest houses and sometimes in youth hostels. One such place was Colditz Castle, now a hostel, but formerly, a prison for soldiers of the allied forces during WWII and the subject of many escape attempts at that time, Rob jokingly said he “dressed as an old cyclist to escape.”

The tour was an education, with Rob’s photography providing fine images of the adventure, all backed-up by his informative commentary. Anna Lee, in her vote of thanks, commented that, as Rob has shown, more can be seen on a bike than by car travel. The meeting on October 16 will be at the Borders Art Glass studio at Galalaw, Hawick, with Peter Holmes.

Heiton

Craft Fair

A craft fair will be held at Heiton Village Hall on Sunday, October 12 from 10am to 4pm. Free entry, numerous crafts, refreshments available.

Proceeds go to the hall for village flower tubs.

Innerleithen

PTA coffee morning

St Ronan’s Primary School PTA would like to thank everyone who helpd them raise more than £300 at the recent coffee morning.

The funds raised will be used to benefit all of the children at St Ronan’s.

Countdown Club

Please note dates for October are slightly different from the usual pattern. The club will meet on Wednesday, October 15 and 29, at 7 Nursery Park, Innerleithen, at the usual time of 10.30am.

Christmas lights

The switch-on date for Innerleithen Christmas lights this year is Sunday, December 7. Work putting up the festive lights will start on Sunday, October 19. Volunteers are asked to assemble at the Hut or in the High Street by 9.30am. The next Innerleithen Civic Association committee meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 21.

Ex-Standard Bearers’ Association

The annual general meeting of St Ronan’s Ex-Standard Bearers’ Association will take place on Monday, October 20 at 8pm in the Union Club. All members are requested to attend.

Band concert

Tickets are now on sale for St Ronan’s Silver Band’s autumn concert, to be held on Saturday, October 25, in the Memorial Hall at 7.30pm. The concert will feature St Ronan’s Silver and Future Bands, and special guests Galashiels Town and Youth Bands. Tickets cost £6 (£5 OAP/school children) and are available from Adam’s Baker and the Thrift Shop in Innerleithen, Robb’s KeyStore in Peebles, by phoning 01896 831721 or email KJBelleville@aol.com

Craft sale

Innerleithen & District AOS will hold a craft fair and tabletop sale in the Memorial Hall, Leithen Road, Innerleithen, on Saturday, November 15, from 9.30am to 12.30pm. There will be teas/coffees and bacon rolls, cakes, soft goods, gifts, photos, crafts, cards, jewellery and lots more. Entry by donation.

Coffee morning

St Ronan’s Future Band will hold a coffee morning on Saturday, October 25 in the Vale Club from 10am-noon. There will be a variety of stalls including books, cake and candy and a prize draw. Entry costs £1. Funds raised will help the Future Band to participate in the Scottish Youth Championships to be held in Perth in November.

Jedburgh

St John’s Church

A variety of music – Baroque to Burns – will take place in the church on Sunday, October 19 at 3pm – a pleasant way to spend an autumn afternoon. The musical extravaganza features Joanna Nicholson (clarinet), Ted Ferguson (organ) St John’s Choir and friends. Refreshments will be provided, entry is by donation to church funds.

Kelso

Abbey Quilters

Abbey Quilters will be meeting on Tuesday, October 14 at 7pm in Abbey Row Centre. Ali Halley, a local textile artist, will be giving a talk entitled ‘From Curtains to Quilts’. Please remember to bring a mug. For further information, contact Rineke Sangster on 01573 229414.

Advice surgery

Scottish Borders Councillor Simon Mountford will hold an advice surgery in the Abbey Row Centre at 11am on Saturday, October 11. No appointment necessary.

Kelso North and Ednam Church Guild opened its autumn session with a service held in Kelso North on Thursday, September 25. The Rev Anna Rodwell led the service of dedication in which members of the guild also took part. Tea was served and some business discussed. The Guild meets again today (Thursday, October 9), for a social evening. New members are welcome to this and to all future meetings held in Kelso North Church at 7.30pm. Please see notices for future meetings.

U3A Group

The next meeting of The Four Border Abbeys U3A Group will be held on Monday, October 13 at 2pm in Kelso Rugby Club. As well as the monthly meeting, “Down to Earth” will be giving a talk on Kinesiology. Members and guests welcome.

Old Parish Church

Joining Together in Harmony 2014 – An Evening of Words and Song, takes the theme of conflict and reconciliation and takes place in the Old Parish Church tomorrow (Friday, October 10) at 7 30pm. Tickets, £5, from Hector Innes or at door on night.

Thursday Group

The Thursday Group opened with ex-Provost Margaret Riddell on Charity Begins at Home. Today (Thursday), Roger Hemming on My Favourite Thing. Next week, Mike Bardon, who worked

for the Royal Mail on their special stamp issues, will talk about How a Stamp is Born.

Abbey Row Centre, 2pm. Telephone: 01573 224753 for info.

Langholm

Free transport

The Annandale Transport Initiative is running a free trial bus service every Tuesday from the town at 10.35am to Dumfries, and Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary, to arrive at 12.15am. The bus will go via Canonbie, Evertown, Chapelknowe, Kirkpatrick Fleming and Hollee, and will make the return journey at 3.30pm. Seats must be pre-booked by 2pm on the Monday. Telephone: 01576 203053 or email: info@atibus.org.uk

Lauder

Historical society

Bob Towers will give a talk about his life as headmaster of Lauder Primary School, Crofts Road, on Wednesday, October 15, at 7.30pm in Lauder Youth Trust Hall. Further details from Joan Stevens on 01578 722559.

Church

James Ian Ross Leach , son of Allison and Steven Leach, was baptised on Sunday, October 5, during the Harvest Festival service. Shoeboxes were collected for Blythswood. If you still have a shoebox, please take it to Carfraemill by November 1.

Church Guild

The opening meeting was very well attended by members and friends. After the devotions and business, Nicola Pringle gave an excellent talk on her trip to Peru with Earlston High School, answering questions with enthusiasm and interest. The next meeting is on Wednesday, November 5, at 2.30pm, in the Church Centre.

There will be a coffee morning for church funds in Maxton Village Hall on Saturday, October 18, starting at 10am. There will be all the usual stalls as well as coffee/tea and home-baked biscuits. Admission is £2. A warm welcome to all.

Melrose

Holy Trinity Church

The Autumn Fayre is on Saturday, October 11, in the Melrose Corn Exchange, from 10am-noon. Children’s Messy Church and various stalls.

Historical and Archaeological Association

The winter programme commences on Tuesday, October 14, at 7.30 pm, in the William Hill Room of the Ormiston Institute, with a talk on ‘The Soutra Platform’, presented by Henry Borthwick, a well-known speaker on the history of the Borders. The historical references will cover the whole of the Soutra Plateau, with particular reference to Soutra Hospital. All are welcome. £3 entry for visitors.

Parish Church

The services at Bowden and Melrose were augmented by the monthly Family Service in the Hall at Melrose, with child-friendly songs. The OT theme was the Commandments, structured so that they started with God’s commitment/covenant with his people, and then went on to what was expected of his people, in return, in their daily living. The NT parable of the vineyard and its owner’s dealings with his tenants was part of the agenda of the early church and showed the tensions between the Pharisees and the synagogue on the one hand, and the growing Church on the other. Both stories emphasised the need for unity in order to hold things together and move forward. Activities: Today (Thursday, October 9) at 1.30pm – Trimontium Walk from Museum; Sunday, October 12 – Services, Bowden 9.30am,Melrose 11am; Tuesday, October 14 – Priorwood Ct coffee morning at 10.30am; Wednesday, October 15 – Bowden Community Café; Friday, October 17 – Marie Curie Quiz, Corn Exchange at 7.30pm, £10; Sunday, October 19 – Songs of Praise at Parish Church service at 11am. Requests invited.

Trimontium

The Walk last Thursday attracted 14 participants who enjoyed the Indian summer weather, and in the evening there was a splendid audience for the first lecture of the autumn series, with the general title of ‘Provinces, Praetorians and Propaganda’. Professor Ian Haynes of Newcastle was the first speaker and he is to be succeeded on October 23 by Dr Sandra Bingham of Edinburgh and on November 30 by Nicholas Holmes of Edinburgh, the numismatics expert.

‘The Blood of the Provinces’: The Romans drafted into their army tribesmen from conquered provinces and gathered them into their own groups, with their own national titles, as auxilia, not so much ‘back-up’ as ‘front-forward’, ahead of the legionaries. Proffesor Haynes, archaeology professor at Newcastle, described how these groups of young men were divided up and ‘mixed’ into the army. The cemetery at Birdoswald contained bodies of Greeks, Gauls and Africans, all buried in each group’s own funerary practice from bags, stone-lined pits and pots to under-pyre pits. Their weapons and dress could also be different symbols of nationality, including knee fringes and flared trousers. Good ideas like the Housesteads belt buckle spread throughout the Empire, whereas the curved sword of the Dacians did not ‘take on’. Forts were military installations, but were also town-like in layout, with temples and baths, which must have encouraged auxiliaries from rural backgrounds to grow into the Roman way of life.

These lads found themselves in a culture of consumption and distinction, with resources of food from all over the Empire, and far more opportunities, now binding them into the Roman lifestyle, even at their level. The Carvoran grain measure metal ‘pail’ used to distribute the ration to each soldier had the Emperor’s name on it – no wonder he had to be venerated as a god. An industrial scale of consumption eg in olive oil, prevailed. An auxiliary probably even smelled differently from before. A multiplicity of gods and rituals existed. A Dura Europos fresco shows the 20th cohort of Palmyrans on parade for veneration of their deity and this co-existed with private dedications eg by commanders at Maryport. and as rough (then hidden) wall drawings by individuals. By the early 3rd century, in an ironic twist, the heaviest concentration of auxiliaries was in Rome itself – to protect the Emperor.

After a flurry of questions, Keith Hanson, a fellow NE graduate, thanked the speaker for a hugely informative lecture and the first-night audience left him in no doubt of their appreciation.

Morebattle

Coffee morning

Many thanks to all who supported the MacMillan Coffee Morning in which £530 was raised.

WRI

Morebattle WRI will be held in the Institute on Wednesday, October 8, at 7.15pm when Margaret Kenny will demonstrate Rag Rugs. Competitions: Home-made pin cushion and three buttons on a card.

Newcastleton

Coffee morning

A very successful coffee morning took place in the village hall, organised by Alice Forster and her friends, and raised £530 for Macmillan cancer support. There was a baking stall, along with tombola and a raffle, which were all kept busy. Everyone enjoyed delicious home baking along with their tea or coffee.

Oxton

WRI

The bus will be at the bus stop at 6.45 pm on Wednesday, October 15, to take members to Carfraemill to celebrate 90 years of Oxton WRI.

Church

The Harvest Festival was celebrated on Sunday, October 5, and 19 shoeboxes were collected for Blythswood. If you still have a shoebox, please take it to Carfraemill by November 1.

Selkirk

Antiquarian Society

The October meeting of the Society will be held on Wednesday, October 15, at 7.30pm in Selkirk Parish Church Hall, Selkirk. Catherine Maxwell Stuart, Lady of Traquair, and Margaret Fox will present ‘A Family Revealed: The Stuarts at Traquair 1491-1875’. Annual membership is £6 and non-members £2 per session. All are welcome. Further syllabus information can be found on www.selkirkshire antiquariansociety.co.uk.

Monday Club

At 2pm on Monday, October 13, at St Joseph’s Church Hall, Janet Mitchell will give a talk about Photos of Yesteryear. All are welcome.

Yarrowford

Coffee morning

People baked, made soup , donated and came in droves to support Yarrowford Hall’s Macmillan Coffee Morning last week. A record-breaking £1,209 was raised on the day with an extra donation of £380 going to the Ettrick Macmillan. Organisers thanked everyone involved for their fantastic effort.

SWRI

Yarrowford SWRI recently enjoyed a talk by Mr and Mrs Caldwell of Innerleithen about the history of their business which is now 103 years old. Samples of ice cream were enjoyed. Mrs Caldwell judged the competitions as follows: Glass of jelly – 1, Linda Bradshaw; 2, Hannah Young. Fridge Magnet – 1, Margaret Watson; 2, Hannah Young. The raffle was won by Denise Wells. The next meeting is on Tuesday, October 14. This is the AGM with a taste and try.

Yetholm

Art Exhibition

This continues in Youth Hall until tomorrow (Friday, October 10) at 3pm.

Yetholm Guild

A dedication service takes place on Sunday, October 12, at 10am in Yetholm Church